What keeps organizations from getting the innovation they say they want? In this episode, Kevin talks with Lorraine Marchand about why innovation so often stalls inside teams and organizations, even when leaders claim it is a top priority. Lorraine explains that the real barrier is not a lack of ideas, but a culture that punishes failure instead of treating it as experimentation and learning. They discuss the gap between intention and action, the different types of organizational innovation mindsets, and the leadership practices that help create environments where people feel safe to contribute, test, and grow. Lorraine also shares the five principles that support sustainable innovation (culture, customer focus, chance, collaboration, and change), offering practical insight for leaders at the organization level and the individual level.

Listen For

00:00 Why We Want Innovation But Don't Get It 02:57 The Big Idea Behind the Book 04:08 Why Innovation Breaks Down 07:00 The 4 Types of Organizations 12:02 What This Means for Team Leaders 14:09 Why Leaders Rush to Solutions 15:32 Creating Psychological Safety 19:07 The 5 C's of Innovation 23:27 The Truth About "Customer First" 26:27 The Role of Risk in Innovation 30:01 Final Advice on Taking Initiative 31:09 What Lorraine Is Reading 32:42 Where to Connect 33:31 The Most Important Question: Now What? 33:51 Closing Thoughts

Lorraine's Story: Lorraine H. Marchand is the author of the new book No Fear No Failure: Five Principles for Sustaining Growth Through Innovation. She is an acclaimed consultant, author, and educator on innovation with extensive experience in new product development. She has cofounded several start-ups; held leadership positions at companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Covance/LabCorp, and IBM; and served as advisor to Johnson & Johnson and Hewlett Packard. Marchand is the author, with John Hanc, of The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry. She serves on the boards of several privately held companies and the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Advisory Board at Columbia Business School, and she teaches at the Wharton School and Yeshiva University.

https://www.lorrainemarchand.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorrainemarchand/

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Want help developing the leaders in your organization? Reach out to explore how the Kevin Eikenberry Group can support your team at info@kevineikenberry.com.

Book Recommendations

No Fear, No Failure: Five Principles for Sustaining Growth Through Innovation by Lorraine Marchand and John Hanc
The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry by Lorraine Marchand and John Hanc
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez

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